Xthomas m motley



T. MOTLEY. MODE 0E GONSTEUSTING LETTERS EOE SIGNS, Ec.

No. 17,167. Patented Apr28, 1 857 N nmrEDsrArEs PATENT orme.

THOMAS MOTLEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MODE 0E coNsTRUcTrNe LETTERS EOE SIGNS, sw.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 17,167, dated April 28, 1857.

To all wiz-0m it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS MoTLEY, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letters for Signs, &c., called Motleys Frame or Skeleton Letters and I do hereby declare that the same are described and represented in the following specification and drawings. To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my frame or skeleton letters I will proceed to describe their construction and referring to the drawings in which the same letters indicate like parts in each of the figures, Figure l represents a skeleton frame forming the letter I-I, Fig. 2, is a section of the same cut through the line Z, Z, Fig. 3, is a skeleton of the letter I, and Fig. 4:, a section of the same through the line Y, Y. Figs. 5 and 6 represent a frame or skeleton of the letter I, and a section of the same.

The nature of my invention and improvements in letters for signs of various kinds, also for numerals, consists informing the outline of the letter or numeral of a skeleton frame, open both front and back or entirely through, so that the frame forms a shade in the body of the letter as wellV as around the outside, when the skeleton frames which form the letters are fastened upon a sign board or wall to form a sign.

In the accompanying drawings a skeleton frame of the letter I-I, is shown at Fig. 1, provided with four ears A, A, which are perforated for the nails or screws by which the letter maybe fastened to the sign board or wall. This letter H, is shown in section through the line Z, Z, in Fig. 2.

B, Fig. 3, is a skeleton frame of the letter I, provided with ears by which it may be fastened as heretofore described, a section of this letter is shown in Fig. 4.

The skeleton framesof the letters above represented and described and `such others as are desired may be made of cast iron, zinc, brass or of such other metals or coinpositions of metals as will answer the purpose; and the ears by which they are to be fastened may be made to project into the skeleton frame, as shown by dott-ed lines at C, Fig. l, instead of being made upon the outside as heretofore described.

The skeleton frame of the letter I, as shown in Fig.` 5, and in section Fig. 6, may be made of thin wrought or sheet metal, and soldered or riveted together wherever it is .necessary to unite the different portions of the frame or the ears with the frame. I contemplate that these skeleton frames of letters may be made part of cast and part of wrought metal riveted, soldered or otherwise fastened together as may be most convenient; when made entirely of cast metal they weigh less than half as much as the cast iron block letters heretofore used; thereby reducing the cost fifty per cent. Besides being open entirely through from front to back, they produce a more attraetive effect than letterspainted on a flat surface. And further these skeleton frames may be painted different colors by a novice, totally unskilled in the art of lettering signs; that is the outsides of the skeleton frames may be painted one color and the inside another and the board inclosed by the frame a third color, thereby enabling tradesmen and others to change the colors and appearance of their signs at a very small expense.

Letters and numerals made as above described are peculiarly adapted for the names of streets and the numbers of houses on account of their cheapness and durability. These skeleton frame letters can be made and sold for about one third of the price charged for wooden block letters which last but a short time while the skeleton frame letters being made of metal will last for ages without being sensibly impaired.

I obtained a patent in England No. 1080, on the 16th of December 1852, for improvements in tablets, letters, and figures for numbers of streets andhouses, in which I state that tablets, letters `and figures may, when desired, have a very agreeable ornamental effect given to them by placing before them a plate perforated with trellis work consisting of circular openings, cross bars, or any perforations of a suitable character. When the letters are hollow this ornamental plate must be so formed as to render an ornamental open work letter, figure, or device; and when the letters, figures, or devices are raised the plate must be so formed as toleave the ornamental open work between the letters, figures, or devices. Now what I mean by hollow letters is, letters with raised edges projecting from a solid back or from a back of perforated trellis work, consisting of circular openings, cross bars or other suitable perforations; therefore I disclaim such letters so far as my present application for a patent is coneerned.

I believe I have described and represented my improvements in letters and numerals for signs, so as to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use them. I will noW vstate What I desire to secure by Letters Patent to Wit:

I claim- The neW manufacture of frame or skeley THOMAS MOTLEY. Witnesses:

ASA SHOVE,

JAMES HOLLINGSHEAD. 

